1996 Lincoln Mark Viii

Routine

Owners filed 106 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the headlights. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Lincoln Mark Viii years to avoid. Which Lincoln Mark Viii years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

26 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,000–90,000 miles.

Most common 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii problems

76 of the 106 complaints (72%) are about the headlights.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · headlights66
200
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration4
010
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices · headlights4
000
Exterior Lighting · headlights4
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control · throttle and acceleration3
000
Tires2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission2
001
Electrical System › Ignition › Module2
000
Air Bags · airbags2
202
Wheels › Rim1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads16E026000
Filed Apr 1, 201649,635 vehiclesRobert Bosch LLC

Defect. Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

Vehicle Speed Control07V336000
Filed Aug 3, 20073,600,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2016150,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAD A CONSTANT FILM, WHICH AFFECTED THE LOW BEAMS. THE CONTACT CLEANED THE LENSES SEVERAL TIMES AND CHANGED THE BULBS, BUT THE VISIBILITY REMAINED POOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 17, 2014112,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 07/07/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO BEYOND 50 FEET. THE REFLECTIVE PART INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 05/28/2015 *JS

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 9, 2013ME

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *TR

Tires
Filed Jul 20, 201045,000 milesTX

DRIVING ON TOLLWAY ABOUT 60 MPH AND TIRE BLEW OUT. NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Sep 16, 200958,730 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE INFORMING HIM THAT THE WIRING HARNESS SWITCH COULD LEAK INTERNALLY, OVERHEAT, SMOKE, AND BURN. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WITH THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND WAS REPAIRED FOR $3800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACED OR REPAIR HIS WIRING HARNESS SWITCH; THEREFORE, HE HAD TO PERFORM THE REPAIR HIMSELF AND HE WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS A A RECALL THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED OTHER THAN THAT THE CONTACT IS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. NHTSA 07V336000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,730

Tires
Filed Jun 13, 2009144,726 milesVA

MY NAME IS J.M. CARTER AND I RESIDE IN HENRICO COUNTY VIRGINIA. ON MAY 12, 2009, ONE OF THE FOUR COOPER TIRES, GOLDEN FURY GFT ON MY CAR EXPLODED. THANK GOD NEITHER I NOR ANYONE ELSE WAS INJURED, BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES. I SUBMITTED A CLAIM IN GOOD FAITH TO COOPER, AND HAVE RECEIVED THEIR DENIAL STATING THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN IMPACT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE, AND A VIDEO OF THE ROAD TRAVELED WHEN THE EXPLOSION (BLOW OUT) OCCURRED. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Apr 3, 2008OH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT NINE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,321.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 3, 200839,000 milesMI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE VEHICLE HAS HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS, BUT ONE HEADLIGHT IS BRIGHT WHILE THE OTHER IS DIM. IN 2007, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE LAMP NEEDS REPLACING. FORD NO LONGER MAKES THE PART AND COULD NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW IT COULD BE OBTAINED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATE 04-02-08 *BF

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 19, 2008MA

PRODUCT RECALL = -SPEED CONTROL. AUG. 2007. DEALER DISCONNECTED IN 2007-NOT REPLACED...CAR NOW W/NO OVERDERIVE/SPEED CONTROL = WASTES GAS. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 22, 20072 milesPA

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THESE CARS (GENERATION 1 LINCOLN MARK VIII, 1993 TO 1996) ARE AWFUL AND IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND REPLACEMENTS-THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE DETERIORATES, THE OUTER LENS GETS YELLOW AND DULL-DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY LOW BEAMS-FORD SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON REPAIRS FOR THESE MODELS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD, ALL ARE A HAZARD TO THE OWNER AND TO OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 29, 2007CA

CUSTOMER WANTS UPDATE TO CASE #10176001**CC

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 12, 200656,000 milesCA

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII EQUIPPED WITH LUMINARC HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 56,089 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AND APPARENTLY IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF A LIGHT BULB BUT INSTEAD REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.00 PLUS LABOR PER SIDE. 97 AND 98 MODELS ARE DESIGNED FOR SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $260.00 PER BULB. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE FACILITATING OF HEAD LIGHT REPAIRS FOR MY AUTOMOBILE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR 1996 MODEL CARS ARE OBSOLETE AND REPLACEMENT BULBS FOR 1997-1998 MODEL CARS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AND ARE NOT DUE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER 3-4 MONTHS. MY INTERNET RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF OWNERS IN SIMILAR PERIL. WE ARE ALL SCRAMBLING FOR SOLUTIONS TO KEEP OUR AUTOS ON THE ROAD BOTH SAFELY AND LEGALLY. INTERNET SEARCHES FOR USED PARTS (LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTUALLY REFERS YOU TO PRIVATE USED PARTS DEALERS RATHER THAN SUPPLY PARTS THEMSELVES), POSSIBLE NEW PARTS AND EVEN FABRICATED NEW LIGHT SYSTEMS (QUESTIONABLE LEGALITY) ARE BEING PURSUED. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE ARE NO GOOD SOLUTIONS AND WE OWNERS HAVE FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT HAS FAILED TO LAST OR BE SUCCESSFULLY SERVICED WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S USEFUL LIFESP

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 5, 2006MN

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 19, 2006AL

LIGHTS GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHEN PLACED ON DIM. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jul 10, 2006GA

HEAD LIGHT ON THE MARK VIII ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH (LOW BEAM). *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 15, 2006OH

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE TERRIBLE, I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH VARIOUS AFTERMARKET BULBS AND NOTHING INCREASES THE HEADLIGHT POWER. *JB

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Apr 24, 200676,325 milesFL

DRIVERS SIDE HID UNIT ON MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII IS NOT WORKING AND I CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND ANOTHER ONE USED OR NEW TO REPLACE IT WITH, SEEMS TO BE A DEALER ONLY PART AND THE PARTS 'DEPTS. I"VE SPOKEN WITH WANT TO CHARGE ME $750.00 TO $850.00 FOR THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE HID UNIT, I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY AND CANNNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT IN FEAR OF GETTING PULLED OVER OR GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!

Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 17, 200685,000 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SILVER REFLECTORS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT. THIS MADE DRIVING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT DUE TO THE LACK OF LIGHT PRODUCED FROM THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/03/06

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 11, 2006MA

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS FROM 1993-1996. THE HEADLIGHTS AFTER A COUPLE YEARS BEGIN TO DEGRADE. THE REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE THE PARABOLA TURNS CHALKY AND THEREFORE DOES NOT REFLECT LIGHT THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED. THIS MAKES FOR VERY POOR LIGHTING AT NIGHT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. LINCOLN NEW ABOUT THIS AND SWITCHED TO HID (HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE) UNITS IN 1996, BUT ONLY ON THE LSC MODELS. FORD/LINCOLN SELLS THESE UNITS BUT AT A VERY VERY HIGH PRICE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND HID'S INSTALLED IN THE CARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMPS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Apr 10, 200640,000 milesAZ

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII PROVIDES POOR NIGHT VISIBILITY DUE TO SEVER DEGRADATION OF OEM HEADLAMP SYSTEM. THE REFLECTIVE LENS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING HAS MELTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT THIS MAKES NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT SOME SORT OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTING SYSTEM OR OEM REPLACEMENTS WHICH WILL SOON FAIL AND CAUSE THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 9, 2006138,795 milesNJ

THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING CONSTANTLY SINCE PURCHASE. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIMES AFTER DARK. OTHER CARS DO NOT EVEN FLASH THERE LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO WEAK. ALL OF THE CHROME HAS FALLEN OFF OF THE SURFACES IN THE HEADLIGHTS SO NO LIGHT IS REFLECTED OUT OF THE LIGHTS! *NM

Exterior Lighting › HeadlightsCrash
Filed Mar 31, 200650,000 milesOH

THE HEADLIGHT COVERS (HOUSINGS?) FOR LINCOLN MARK VIII'S 93-98, CLOUD OVER (TURN GRAY INSIDE AND OUT) QUICKLY. THIS DEFECTIVE CLOUDING IN THE LIGHT COVERS RESULTS IN NIGHT DRIVING TO BE VERY HAZARDOUS, ALONG WITH RAIN AND FOG. THE KITS TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS AVERAGE AROUND 1,000. LINCOLN KNOWS OF THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM WHEN THE COVERS CLOUD OVER AND HAS NOT TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION. *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 29, 2006KY

I OWN A 1993 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND AT NIGHT YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE ROAD EVEN WITH THE BRIGHTS ON. THE HOUSING LOOKS LIKE THE CLEAR PART HAS SEPARATED INTO ABOUT 3 LAYERS. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!! *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Mar 28, 2006NY

1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT, SEVERE LACK OF ILLUMINATION, VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 17, 200660,000 milesAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE HEADLIGHT TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 26, 200683,000 milesTX

POOR HEADLIGHTS ON CAR. LIGHTS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS A TWO CELL FLASH LIGHT.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jul 6, 2005GA

DT: THE CONSUMER HEARD OF PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON SOME FORD LINCOLN MARK VIII. CONSUMER HAS FOUND THAT HER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME OR SIMILAR SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE FIRES IN SOME FORD VEHICLES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER VEHICLE INCLUDED THE RECALL FOR THE REMOVAL OF THIS PARTICULAR CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 13, 200580,000 milesTX

POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE ON A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. I UNDERSTAND THIS RESULTS FROM A DESIGN PROBLEM IN MARK VIII'S OF THAT TIME PERIOD. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 11, 200572,204 milesWA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY HIT A DEER. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CONSUMER WAS AFFECTED BY THE SUBSTANCE IT RELEASED. THE FIBERS DAMAGED HER NECK, FACE AND LEGS. CONSUMER HAS UNDER GONE SEVERAL SURGERIES FOR THIS INCIDENT. WHEN CONTACTING LINCOLN, THEY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY PART IN ANY OF THIS. CONSUMER CALLED THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, WHICH WROTE A LETTER TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ( DOT). CONSUMER WAS STILL WAITING FOR SOME TYPE OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN .*AK...*AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 30, 2004WA

AIR BAG WENT OFF AND BLACK FIBERS WENT INTO MY FACE, NECK AND LEGS. NOW I HAVE CRYSTAL BALLS OVER MY BODY. *BF IT WAS DARK, RAINY AND FOGGY WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER. *SC

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 25, 200474,000 milesWI

VERY POOR NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE POORLY DESIGNED HEADLAMP FIXTURES. THE AGING FACTORY HEADLAMP FIXTURES DO NOT SEEM TO PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. THE FIXTURES SEEM TO "YELLOW" AND "FOG" ABNORMALLY WITH AGE AND IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE FACTORY SPECIFIED LAMPS ACTUALLY DAMAGE THE INTERNAL REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, BOTH CONDITIONS REDUCE EFFECTIVE OUTPUT OF THE FIXTURES. THESE CONDITIONS SEEM TO OCCUR WITH AGE AND USE, NEW FIXTURE OUTPUT IS ACCEPTABLE.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Oct 8, 2004FL

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM THAT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE FAR MORE BRIGHTER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VIEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN IF HE GETS REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS THAT THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN A TWO YEAR TIME SPAN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 18, 2004IN

I JUST PURCHASED A 1996 LINCOLN MARK 8, WHILE DRIVING IT HOME, IT GOT DARK AND I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS...THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS TERRIBLE. I COULD HARDLY SEE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HOW CAN A PERSON DRIVE AT NIGHT, IF THE LIGHTS FAIL TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY? AS I GOT TO CHECKING, THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AS COMPLAINED ABOUT BY OTHER OWNERS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? THESE ARE THE ORGINAL LIGHTING UNITS FROM THE FACTORY, AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Concealment Devices
Filed Jul 22, 200450,000 milesIL

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR GETS BURNED FROM THE LIGHT BULB HEAT. I CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT TIME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! THERE ARE NO "EASY-FIXES" AVAILABLE AND FORD/LINCOLN WANTS A FORTUNE TO REPLACE! *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Dec 8, 200350,000 milesNY

THE HEADLIGHTS THAT CAME STANDARD ON 1993-1996 MARK VIIIS ARE NOT SAFE FOR PUBLIC ROADS. THEY ARE PROBABLY THE WEAKEST HEADLIGHTS EVER PLACED INTO A VEHICLE DURING THE 1990S. IM SURPRISED THEY EVEN PASSED THE DOT REGULATIONS. THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY LITTLE LIGHTING FOR THE ROAD AND THEY DO NOT EVEN GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT TO THE STREET SIGNS SO THAT THEY CAN BE READ LEGIBLY AND EASILY. DRIVING ON A POOR LIT ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TURNING ON THE HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE OTHER WISE YOU BECOME A HAZARD BECAUSE OF POOR VISIBILITY. IVE BEEN IN COUNTLESS NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE POOR LIGHTS AND BECAUSE THEY BARELY LIGHT UP THE MARKERS ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY EITHER NEED TO REPLACED WITH THE HID UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, OR AT LEAST IMPROVED DRASTICALLY; OTHERWISE THE RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR DURING THE NIGHT INCREASES AT LEAST 10 FOLD.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 17, 200320,000 milesOH

I HAVE ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME EVENT THAT WAS JUST FILLED FOR THE LACK OF PROPER HEAD LAMPS ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. AS I OWN TWO OF THE SAME CAR I AM ALSO FILING FOR THIS ONE AS WELL. *LA

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 17, 200324,000 milesOH

HEAD LIGHTS ON BOTH OF MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VLLL S ARE VERY POOR AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD SUFFICIENTLY. I JUST MISSED HITTING A DOG THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME AS THESE LIGHTS ON BOTH CARS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *LA

Wheels
Filed Sep 24, 200342,500 milesMD

THE FACTORY 20-SPOKE CHROME DIRECTIONAL WHEELS HAVE BEEN LOSING AIR SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1999 WITH 42,500 MILES. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO KOONS LINCOLN MERCURY IN OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS. HOWEVER, ONCE I REPLACED THE TIRES AND STILL CONTINUED TO LOSE AIR, I WENT TO SEVERAL TIRE SHOPS OF THE FRANCHISE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED MY TIRES TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX THE LEAKS. EVERY SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE FACTORY CHROME IS PREMATURELY FLAKING OFF AROUND THE TIRE "BEAD" AREA WHICH CREATES SMALL GAPS BETWEEN THE WHEEL SURFACE AND TIRE ALLOWING ANYWHERE FROM A SLOW LEAK UP TO A 10-POUND-PER-DAY PRESSURE LOSS. BY THEN, MY LINCOLN WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. TIRE SHOPS CAN ONLY TEMPORARILY RETARD THE LEAK WITH A TYPE OF SEALANT BUT THAT EVENTUALLY GIVES WAY TO MORE GAPS. THE ONLY WAY CONSUMERS CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM IS TO GO OUT AND SPEND OVER TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A SET OF FOUR MORE WHEELS THAT WILL SOON DEVELOP THE SAME PROBLEM ANYWAY. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IMPROPERLY INFLATED TIRES CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH OTHER MOTORISTS, OBJECTS, BIKERS, PEDESTRIANS, ETC. FORD SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO RECALL THESE SUBSTANDARD ALUMINUM WHEELS AND EITHER PROVIDE IMPROVED REPLACEMENTS OR RESURFACE THE WHEELS WITH A HIGHER QUALITY CHROME COATING.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 24, 200342,500 milesMD

"DRIVING WITHIN YOUR HEADLIGHTS" IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE 93-96 GENERATION LINCOLN MARK 8 UNLESS YOUR SPEED IS UNDER APPROXIMATELY 20MPH. DEBRIS, ANIMAL CARCASSES, AND OTHER OBSTACLES SUDDENLY APPEAR CAUSING THE DRIVER AN IMMEDIATE REACTION OF DANGEROUSLY SWERVING OUT OF THE WAY RISKING LOSS OF CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION WITH OTHER MOTORISTS, OBJECTS, PEOPLE, ETC. REPLACEMENT WITH THE SAME PART IS NOT A SENSIBLE OPTION BECAUSE THE FLAW IS INHERENT TO THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS DESIGN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STEP UP AND REMEDY THIS SAFETY ITEMS DESIGN DEFICIENCY.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 22, 200385,000 milesWI

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. ENGINE WAS DESIGNED THAT IT DID NOT GIVE THE SPARK PLUG ENOUGH SPACE FOR IT TO WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, AND CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE ENGINE.DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 7, 2003AZ

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND HAVE BECOME VERY CONSERNED ABOUT THE POOR LIGHTING THIS VEHICLE HAS DURING THE NIGHT HOURS. IT IS BECOMMING HARDER AND HARDER TO USE THE FACTORY LIGHTING TO HAVE A GOOD FISION OF THE AREA AHEAD AND ANY OBSTICALS THAT MIGHT BE THERE.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 16, 2003MA

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT. *NLM

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Apr 2, 200382,000 milesCA

THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 20, 2003VA

NONE

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 18, 2002IL

HEAD LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING. DT

Exterior Lighting › HeadlightsCrash
Filed Nov 10, 2002MD

WE HAVE BEEN NOTING THE HIGH NUMBER OF 1993-1996 LINCOLN MARK 8 OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTING SERIOUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY YOUR OFFICES. FORD & LINCOLN WILL APPARENTLY DO NOTHING BECAUSE YOU DO NOTHING. THESE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE OWNERS. THEY CAN'T SEE DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS APPARENT DESIGN FLAWS OF THEIR HEADLIGHTS. WHAT IS THE GOOD OF HAVING A GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION AGENCY THAT WILL NOT START AN INVESTIGATION WITH AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS??? FORD/LINCOLN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM BEACUSE THEY KNOW YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING . PROBABLY THEY HOPE THAT TIME WILL RUN OUT AND EVERY ONE WILL TRASH THESE $40,000 CARS OR TRADE THEM IN . IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE LATER MODELS, 1997-1998 MARK 8S, HAVE A DIFFFERENT HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. BUT NO HELP OR RETROFIT TO THE OLDER MODEL OWNERS. WHAT GOOD IS THE GOVERNMENT IN THESE CASES WHERE THEY DO NOTHING??? A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY TO THE OWNERS WHO TRUST THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING AND INVESTIGATE. HEADLIGHTS, COME ON - HOW MUCH MORE SERIOUS CAN YOU GET??? WHEN YOU REVIEW THE YEARS IN QUESTION, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. AND OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THE REPORTS OF OWNERS WHO ARE AWARE OF YOUR AGENCY. DT

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 20, 2002CA

MANUFACTURE INSTALLED HALOGEN (9005) HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO HOT AND HAVE DESTROYED THE HOUSING AND REFLECTIVE MATERIALS SO THERE IS LITTLE TO NO VISIBILITY WHEN USING THEM. DT

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 16, 2002NC

HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS INADEQUATE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATE POOR DESIGN. MR

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Oct 10, 2002MA

CONSUMERS WIFE LEFT FOR WORK AND COULD NOT GET THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK. THE MANUAL EXPLAINED HOW TO OVER RIDE THE LOCK OUT ALSO INDICATING THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE OUT. NOT WANTING TO BE WITH OUT BRAKE LIGHTS, CONSUEMRS WIFE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE SHOP TO HAVE THE FUSE REPLACED. WHEN THEY PROCEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN, THE STARTER CONTINUED TO STAY ENGAGED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING EVEN WITH THE KEYS REMOVED. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BRAKCET HAD COME LOOSE AND SHORTED THE BRAKE WIRES ALSO SHORTING THE WIRES TO THE STARTER. *JG

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Sep 17, 2002NJ

CONSUMER STATES DUE TO A DESIGN DEFICIENCY, THE REFLECTIVE LINING INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP HOUSING IS BEING BURNED OFF, SEVERELY DIMINISHING THE OUTPUT OF THE HEADLAMPS. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE EXTREME HEAT BUILD-UP FROM THE 9005 HALOGEN BULB USED IN THE LOW BEAM SECTION OF THE HEALAMP HOUSING. *TT

Complaints 1-50 of 106, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20001000Routine
19992000Routine
199883230Routine
199790210Routine
1996 — this page106220Routine
1995136210Routine
1994167350Routine
1993239478Fatalities reported
19921000Routine

Compare every Mark Viii year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 1, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.